Local Bally’s to customer: “Didn’t we tell you? You’re a member now.” (Updated)

The salesman from Bally’s Total Fitness approached Lauren Rodgers as she shopped in the Crossgates Mall in October. He was persuasive and Rodgers was looking to get fit anyway.

He made her an offer: $1,200 for 24 sessions with a personal trainer, spread out over two months. She said she wanted to think about it overnight.

“This deal isn’t going to be here tomorrow,” Rodgers recalled the salesman, Frank Tisco, told her. So she signed up and began classes the next month.

The workouts she received were so-so, she said. But what really got her heart rate going was her credit card statement. In January, she noticed that in addition to the $1,200, Bally’s charged her another $48. When she called a toll-free number to ask about it, she was told that it was for her 36-month gym membership.“I didn’t sign anything that said a word about three years, or $48 a month,” Rodgers said.The customer service representative said she would file a complaint on Rodgers’ behalf.

At first she heard nothing. Then, in February, someone told her that she needed to mail three copies of her own signature to Bally’s, along with her contract. She said she wasn’t comfortable doing that, and that Bally’s should instead show her the portion of the contract that obligates her to a three-year membership deal.

She was told that since she wasn’t going to send in copies of her signature, her complaint could take months to resolve (no one could explain why). Meanwhile, Rodgers continued to be billed $48 every month.

Once I started calling Bally’s Total Fitness corporate headquarters in Chicago, they couldn’t tend to Rodgers’ complaint fast enough. And, to their credit, they were very clear about why they suddenly seemed interested in helping a customer who was being asked to pay for services she did not authorize.

“We’d like a chance to work it out with the member and we really would prefer it if you didn’t write an article about this,” said a woman who identified herself as “Kat,” who works in Bally’s Chicago offices.

I told her that what Rodgers would have prefered was a straight answer that took less than five months and a phone call to the newspaper to obtain.

Later Wednesday afternoon, Rodgers called me back to report some progress: Bally’s had agreed to cancel the remainder of her 36-month paper, but refused to refund her the $48 a month she had been paying since November.

That was unacceptable.

“They told me that they had a valid contract (for a three-year) membership with my signature on it,” Rodgers ssaid. They promised to mail her a copy as proof. I asked Bally’s to fax me a copy of the contract and reminded them that Bally’s had been cited as recently as 2004 for deceptive business practices in New York, including shady sales tactics that locked
people into contracts they weren’t aware of.

Finally, Lauren Rodgers called me again to say that Bally’s had agreed to give her a full refund for the bogus gym membership. “I’m looking forward to getting that money back,” she said.

No one from Bally’s called me back directly.

You can read about deceptive sales practices highlighted in 2004 by then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer here.

And to read what other people have to say about Bally’s, try this link.

Had Bally’s refused to cooperate, I would have recommended to Rodgers that she dispute the unauthorized charge with the bank that issued her credit card, and that she file a claim with the Attorney General’s office.

* Update

A couple of emailers correctly pointed out something I glossed over in this column: Don’t sign a contract under pressure. When Tisco told Lauren Rodgers that “this deal isn’t going to be here tomorrow,” she did get up and attempt to leave. But then, Tisco came down in price even further, which is why she ultimately signed. I know a career salesman who offered this take on that scenario: “Say the price was $1,500, and the salesman came down to $1,200. In the consumer’s mind, that’s all it will ever be worth. If he’s willing to come down in price like that, that should be a warning sign that the product wasn’t worth the original price in the first place.” This sales guy said there are times when a salesman can give a deadline and it would be legitimate. For instance, if the item for sale is an ad in a newspaper that’s going to print on a certain day. Or if you’re buying a car, and Ford is offering 0% financing until the end of the month. But if your business is welcome for $1,200 today but will be turned away tomorrow, then it may be a sign you should walk away (walking is also a much cheaper form of exercise than working out at a gym, anyway).

49 Responses

I am so glad that you wrote this article outlining the underhanded business practices of Bally’s Total Fitness.

I have had a similar experience, having been tricked into a membership. I continued to pay my $48 a month after having no luck getting out of the “contract.” Unfortunately, that was not even the REAL problem. After paying electronically for almost two years, I received a notice from a collection agency (whilst I was out of the country) stating that they had purchased my debt (debt!) to Bally’s Total Fitness and that I must remit over $1200. Well, you must imagine this came as a shock, as I had continued to pay the exorbitant and bogus $48/month and NEVER authorized a stop in payment.

I immediately reviewed my online banking records, and realized that Bally’s electronic funds transfer had ceased to debit my account about 6 months prior. Although I would have loved to cease payment, I did not request that my bank cancel any payments, which I also confirmed.

Right now I am in the process of corresponding with the collection agency and Bally’s continues to get away with stunts like this every day. Bally’s does have a clause in their contract that releases a person from the contract if they move more than 20 miles from a fitness center. Having been overseas, this would have “set me free.” However, since I was sent to collection, without a notice to my US address (or even notice of non-payment which I would have promptly addressed), I am now paying for Bally’s failure to continue to debit my account.

Good for you, Lauren. Unfortunately, the outcome of your case places you in the vast minority.

i am a member at bally’s in crossgates and while i too was “tricked” into a 3-year membership back in 2004, i saw it through however. I did have many issues in the beginning and did pay about $45/month. that being said, after my three years was up, i paid $12/month and now $14/month – their explanation for the increase – “cost of living.” I personally don’t think they have a leg to stand on making a comment like that, but that’s a whole other story.

I like bally’s (mainly because it convenient and now cheap), however I’m pretty sure that most of the trainers are not certified – which is ridulious considering they get upwards of $60/session?!? (don’t quote me on that).

On top of that, there has been a massive turn-around in staff since I started working out there in ‘04 (I do not believe frank works there anymore), and I know they had issues with employees grossly overcharged customers for memberships – I’m talking like $90/month (I’d like to talk to one of those gullible customers).

I think two things need to be done in this situation – 1.) Where the heck is the owner of this club? I go to the gym very frequently and have seen him twice (both in the same week). And 2.) Bally’s needs to spend some of the money that us members give them to hire decent employees (don’t get me wrong, there are a handful there who do care and do a WONDERFUL job).

I want the bally’s they show on the commercials, not a dirty, embarrassing place to work out (thank god the windows are frosted, sometimes I ashamed to walk into that place).

Work out at home.. Unless you like destroying your credit rating by not adhering to Bally’s shady business practices. They prey on innocent people. Beware of their overly nice sales people trying to rope you in.

I am so glad that you wrote this article and that these scam artists are being exposed. My fiancee was in the mall one day with his friend, similiar experience, they were approached by a sales person telling them they had a FREE 30 day trial…had them fill out the paperwork incase they decided to go beyond the 30 days. They went to Bailey’s 2 days out of the 30 day FREE trial. Well it wasn’t so free. Started receiving bills that he owed thousands of dollars for a 2 or 3 year membership, they called everyday for payment…they were very nasty about it. Now he owes them close to $3,000 for going 2 days during a FREE 30 day trial…I thought 30 day trial meant you can use our gym for 30 days and if you like it join and if you don’t like it don’t join. They definately know what they are doing! They are not being honest and ruining people’s credits and lives. I hope by them being exposed will prevent people from stopping to see what they have to say….don’t believe a word of it. This also happened to a friend of mine who also was with her friend when stopped to try their free 30 day trial…who also used the gym less than 30 days and took 2 years to pay the debt off with them. I hope this article brings awareness to everyone. The Better Business Bureau should shut them down.

Absolutely, beware of their nice sales people. I was lucky enough to get out alive after they tag-teamed me for 2 hours. I thought it would be rude to walk out on them (I was only 20-something) but I stood firm and didn’t sign.

They kept saying, “But nobody WANTS to work out. That’s why we have contracts.”

This was in the late 80’s, and I was glad to see that Colonie (Wolf Road) location close down. Too bad they’re still around, and up to the same old tricks.

i am a member at bally’s in crossgates and while i too was “tricked” into a 3-year membership back in 2004, i saw it through however. I did have many issues in the beginning and did pay about $45/month. that being said, after my three years was up, i paid $12/month and now $14/month – their explanation for the increase – “cost of living.” I personally don’t think they have a leg to stand on making a comment like that, but that’s a whole other story.

I like bally’s (mainly because it convenient and now cheap), however I’m pretty sure that most of the trainers are not certified – which is ridulious considering they get upwards of $60/session?!? (don’t quote me on that).

On top of that, there has been a massive turn-around in staff since I started working out there in ‘04 (I do not believe frank works there anymore), and I know they had issues with employees grossly overcharged customers for memberships – I’m talking like $90/month (I’d like to talk to one of those gullible customers).

I think two things need to be done in this situation – 1.) Where the heck is the owner of this club? I go to the gym very frequently and have seen him twice (both in the same week). And 2.) Bally’s needs to spend some of the money that us members give them to hire decent employees (don’t get me wrong, there are a handful there who do care and do a WONDERFUL job).

I want the bally’s they show on the commercials, not a dirty, embarrassing place to work out (thank god the windows are frosted, sometimes I ashamed to walk into that place).

Had a similar experience at Gold’s when I was “gym shopping:” Before I could tour (walk around with a staffer only – not workout or trial-run) the Latham branch, I was asked to sign paperwork of some sort. I can’t remember if I signed it; I don’t think so, and I did not like the gym at all, so thankfully it ended there. I did end up joining the YMCA and have been very happy with them. By the way, YMCA tours are free and friendly, and they don’t ask you for your autograph.

I had a terrible experience with them years ago, when they were on Wolf Road. I wasn’t even 18, and they were encouraging me to forge my mothers signature on an application form. This was after I accepted a two week “free” trial. They then tried to bully me and my parents on the phone, saying that I was “locked” into a membership. We had to file a complaint with the BBB. They are totally obnoxious!

OMG!!! When is Bally’s going to stop getting away with this!!??!! I went to the Bally’s that used to be on Wolf Road almost 10 yrs ago to inquire about a membership. I was told that I could not just pay upfront for the one year membership but instead had to give them a cancelled check so they could do monthly deductions. I told them thanks but no thanks and left without signing anything. Last year when I returned to work from maternity leave to find that my wages were now being garnished because Bally’s had won a settlement against me for , are you ready for this?, $2100.00!!!!!!! I never recieved any bill form Bally’s, nor did I recieve notice to appear in court. When I contacted the law firm who was garnishing my wages I was told that the summons was served to someone at my former address described as “approximately 40 yrs old, with blond hair and a thin build”. I am only 31 now, have brown hair and haven’t had a thin build since I was 16 yrs old. I was told too bad by everyone I contacted that I only had 1 yr from the date of the settlement to challenege it and they had conveinently waited until 2 yrs later to start the garnishment process. After consulting with various people I found it would have been more expensive to fight it so I just paid. But because of the garnishment I had to work extra hours to supplement my income and that was time away from my new son! I hate Bally’s and I think it’s DISGUSTING that they can manipulate and be allowed to get away with this. I am not the only person I know who has situations like this with Bally’s!

One of the lessons here is never sign a contract under pressure, and never in the spur of the moment. Don’t fall for the sales line that the great offer won’t last. Never take a verbal assurance about the terms of a contract. Read it before you sign it. As Samuel Goldwyn is said to have said, “A verbal agreement is not worth the paper it’s written on.” Caveat emptor.

About 3 years ago I went into Bally’s to discuss personal training options. I did end up signing a contract. Unfortunately, after 1 session of mediocre attention, I cancelled my contract by following the cancellation terms included….sent the letter certified mail and everything. I then received a phone call telling me that they couldn’t pull up my contract information without an actual member number . . . which I never received I’m guessing because I cancelled immediately. A collection agency contacted me about my OVERDUE BILL (of which I never received a bill from Bally’s) . . . I pulled out all of my paperwork about cancelling this “membership” and they stopped calling. But, to this day, I have NEVER been given my money back!!!! These people are absolute slime!

My friend was tricked into a Bally’s membership too! This was several years ago but the way she has described it sounds much like the stories mentioned in the comments here. What a shame that there are still people out there who resort to those tactics to get you to join a gym. For what it’s worth, I’m a member of the Ciccotti Center in Colonie. The staff is nice, tours are free and no one ever pressured me into joining – which is largely why I ultimately did join.

I have had a similar experience with Bally’s.
They told me I could cancel my trial membership at anytime, I canceled it, but to my amazement, I was still being charged. When I called corporate, they said I was locked into a two year agreement. I asked for a copy of my contract, because I never received one. When I got a copy of it, It looks like the man signing me up, took my front page of a “trial membership contract” and put it on top of a two year contract. I filed a complaint with BBB, but it did no good.
Stay away from Ballys they are deceiving!!

I signed up for a Bally’s membership years ago. I signed a year contract. Getting out the contract was near-impossible. I had to cancel a full month before my second to last month, by sending in a notarized letter by certified mail… I could not believe it. Once I sent them the letter, they continued to charge me for two more months. After calling incessantly and talking to “supervisors” on the phone, I finally spoke to someone who said she’d refund my money “as a courtesy”. Since when it is a courtesy not to steal from me?

I had this problem with Gold’s Gym about 2 years ago. I went in for a free tour of the gym. Before I was given the tour though I was told I had to fill out an information card. There was no signature needed, I just had to print out my first and last name, address, and current phone number. I decided not to join Gold’s because of the expense. About two months after the tour I received billing statements in the mail. The financing company for Gold’s refused to let me see the contract I supposedly signed. Also, they refused to cancel the contract. After much searching on the web I was able to find the telephone number for Gold’s corporate office. The person I spoke to was more then helpful, and started contacting all the right people for me. I did have to send proof of my signature to the financing company, but it was worth it. No later then two hours after receiving my fax it was determined that the signature on the contract was not mine. No one at Gold’s Gym in Watervliet/Latham had an answer as to why a contract was processed, and there was no apologizes for deceitful practices.

I was duped also, but shame on me. I am more perturbed that in recent memory they have had two publicized instances of sexual wrongdoing at this club, involving staff. The place is a dump.
The staff is the most unfriendly I have ever encountered. The last smile I remember seeing from the staff was that coy “I got you where I want you” look when I signed up.
Maybe Mario and Matilda’s little boy will do something now!!!

Bally’s is shady and so are their practices. What they don’t tell you when you sign a contract with them is that you are actually taking out an installment loan, which shows on your credit report. If you stop paying, it shows on your credit report as defaulting on a loan. I was mislead on their practices as well, and it is near impossible to get out of the “contract” that you signed that they dont go over with you.(They didnt even show me everything that I was signing to, until afterwards – little did I know.) You only get a few days to cancel – which they didn’t tell me and if you don’t cancel within that period of time they will NOT work with you. (I called the day after my “grace” period was up.) So I was stuck paying for three years on a loan all in the name of Bally’s.
Word of mouth is the best advertisement, and my advice is to avoid them at all costs!!! I would NEVER recommend Bally’s to anyone and in fact go out of my way to tell everyone to stay away from them.

I also had a really negative experience with Bally’s, while I was a freshman in college in New York City. I was barely 18 at the time, and swear I never signed a year-long contract, but Bally’s insisted I had. I ended up paying $1000 or so just to get Bally’s off my back. So shady.

My friend and I wanted to sign up for the gym last summer so we walked in Bally’s and started talking with one guy about membership details. The manager came in and started making us deals and he asked my friend for her license and credit card. We are young so we thought he was just gonna put it in his system or whatever. Before he even knew what package we wanted, or if we even were gonna go through with it…he charged her credit card for sessions while we talked to another guy. At first we were like….umm thanks for charging us without even knowing if we were going through with the plan. But the next day she went back to take back the membership and he was like “you need to just try out Bally’s. I trust you’ll like it” and was giving her such a hard time about ending the membership. It took her father, who is a lawyer, to call the manager and demand he give her back membership money.

I had the same kind of problem. A couple of years ago in NYC I joined Crunch–owned by the same coporate entity as is Bally. I told them I’d only be there for three months–it was no big deal they said. Just let us know a month in advance and we’ll cancel the membership. But I had to sign for a year. Well this was January and I left the city in April. In March I sent in the requred notice of cancellation. But it wasn’t untll August that they stopped charging my credit card–and only this because I contacted the credit card company and told them to contest it which they did. Later I heard if I hadn’t signed and was walking out the door they would have agreed to no contract and a monthly payment.

Bally’s is horrible! I had a similar experience…with them lowering the cost of joining to get me to sign that day. I told them I could only join temporariy since I would be soon returning to school…they seemed really accomodating…they said that I just needed to make sure to scan in my card at least 17 times before cancelling (whether I actually worked out that day or not) and after doing so one day, one of the horrible workers who thought he was hot stuff actually yelled at comment out to me as I walked away saying, “yeah good work out” in a sarcastic tone. No one should have to EVER be mocked for their own personal work-out choices and here is a representative of their club yelling degrading comments to paying customers as they walk away. To cancel my short membership, which I was told would cost no more that $50., the 1-800 number told me I had to finish paying the initial costs before cancelling (which added to about $150. dollars, on top of the $50.) I was furious, and I refuse to ever do business with a large gym corporation like this ever again. Every time I walk by I hope that they close for manipulating people. I was SO happy they named Frank Tisco in this article because HE is the one that conned me into joining as well.

There are better companies out there than that. You don’t have to settle, and fall for crappy, lame, and old sales tactics like that.

It sounds like with this Bally’s even giving them your real name is a dangerous thing to do. If you really, really like their gym, give them a false name, and only pay with cash. No credit cards, no checks!

It’s weird that this article is aired and I am currently in the same situation with Bally’s Total Fitness in Crossgates Mall. I was doing my internship at JPC and they “tricked” me in to signing up to get fit. The guy told me all I had to do was give him $5 down and $20 per month so I agreed gave him $5 and he gave me some stuff to sign and a membership card. I never even used the membership I never went to work out or nothing and now they are taking me to court saying I owe them over $1200 for a membership that was from January 2007-June 2007. I really don’t see me owing that much for such a short period. I think it is ridiculous that people are really getting scammed by Bally’s Total Fitness and something needs to be done about it. I know we as the members should have took the time out to read what we were signing but the deal just sounds so good that we jump on it and it causes many issues in the long run.

Lauren Rodgers brought the issue now and it is amazing to read all others who had similar problem with Bally’s. Some of them even ten years ago! My question is why Bally’s is still in town? How can they operate a business like this? Where is the Attorney General and BBB?

How come no one is talking about the sexual harassment by the staff. Do you all remember when that steroid goof he started NY Fitness and ran it to the ground was arrested for touching a female client. I went in for a visit and the guy kept on talking about my chest, I off course slapped him and walked out. That is nothing compared to the things I have heard at the Crossgates one. A friend of mine and his wife joined there and used to workout together. One of the trainers used to tell her she was sexy and that she should come in the office for some extra attention. I also knew another girl who was harassed so much on a daily basis that she refused to go. I also knew a girl who had a guy to force himself on her when she was doing a tour and have heard stories of the staff having relations with members in the office. You know what the problem is, its the fact that you have the biggest losers on earth in this field. None of them are certified in anything, they are the stupid jocks in high school who couldn’t cut it in the real world. Their bullies and think that there still in high school. So something on the sexual harassment because its even worse.

It is so unfortunate that so many individuals who have simply tried to adopt a healthy lifestyle have ended up victims of real crimes instead; whether it was financial swindling or sexual harrassment. It’s just a terrible thing.

I just want to say that the YMCA has been serving communities and people in their lifelong venture to a healthy lifestyle for 157 years. I can honestly say that they truly believe in helping people and would never dream of taking advantage of people or treating them in a way that is anything less than caring, honest, respectful and responsible. They live these values day in and day out in their business practices and in their interactions with people. I know that they would welcome anyone who has been a victim of one of these crimes to feel safe and secure at your closest YMCA. Members are like family and they are always excited to add a new member to the family in an ethical and welcoming manner.

They have no contracts and if you don’t want to be a member anymore they are sad to see you go but they don’t hold you hostage! The value of a YMCA membership is heads and tails above what you get at these other places AND THEN SOME!

My girlfriend also took part in a trial period, during which she was told she’d have to go at least 20 times to the gym to “be able to know whether she liked it or not”. She was given a card to swipe and upon entering the 20th time, the card reader didn’t beep like it had before. They told her “it’s fine, just go on in.”
A month later she recieved her first bill, hooked for 3 years. Before the three years was up, Bally’s cancelled the automatic payments on her bank card and sent her account to collections. The bank confirmed that a cancellation was not made by anyone associated with the bank, but rather by Bally’s. After many near-hour-long conversations with Bally’s corporate and the collection agency I advised my girlfriend that it was probably just best to pay it off, since she didn’t want her credit being ruined while she waited for people in this criminal-like organization to “sort things out”.
It’s unfortunate that she had to do that, and unfortunate that a company that so tramples the law is still operating and succeeding in conning people out of their money. How many comments will need to be posted, how many investigations by the attorney general will need to be carried out before Bally’s either changes its practices or is deemed “unsuited to operate” in NY?

My wife and I have had the same complaints as everyone else on this site from sales tactics and harassment at the Crossgates location. We are planning on moving at the end of the month and after reading multiple complaints on the Internet about customers not being able to cancel their memberships, which clearly states that one can if not within 25 driving miles of the nearest location, I am convinced we will be another victim of their practices. To see their reviews just do a search on Bally’s and you will be steered away from ever joining them due to the multiple complaints. I wish I had done a search on them first because if I had I would have never of joined. My advice, find another club.

Here is what I don’t understand. I am currently a member of Bally @ Crossgates. Everyone states they are always tricked into joining the facility and no one takes responsibility for their own actions. I will admit that Frank Tisco was shady and seemed to not have any morals. He lied to people regularly to meet his sales goals and was the worst trainer I had ever seen. I will also admit the facility was dirty, the staff unprofessional and the equipment not maintained and I too was thinking of leaving the facility.

However at the beginning of this year a new company purchased these franchises of Bally in Albany, Syracuse and some others. They also made the bold move to actually seek out and hire a professional manager for the Crossgates Gym since there has not been one in years.

Since this person took over the facility, he FIRED Frank Tisco, changed out many of the daily staff and added a bunch of personal trainers who are certfied, knowlegeable and extremely friendly and professional. He also CLEANED the facility from top to bottom and has it done on a daily basis with his own staff, the place has NEVER been cleaner and the staff NEVER more pleasant. As far as I am concerned its an entirely new facility with him there running the show. What is even more amazing, if you have a problem, he is there and will talk with you about it and give you a truthful answer. You walk away from a conversation knowing you have been listened to understood and that a sincere result will occur.

People need to take responsibility for their own actions, whether we are the buyer or the seller. As much as I feel sorry for the person who this article is about, it needs to be made clear the Bally @ Crossgates Gym is not run the way it has been in the past. These are young good people who are working very hard at something they love to do and libeling them does nothing but hurt the current facility.

This article only presented 1 side of the story, and that was the girls. Did she really not know what she was buying? or signing? Is everyone really that gullible? Again the salesperson was a creep and not a good person, but that was the past.

Gold’s Gym, Planet Fitness, Best Fitness, etc… all do the same things. They all subscribe to the same sales practices for getting people to join their facilities, Bally is not any different than these other gyms. Your local YMCA is a not-for-profit and therefor does not need to be so aggressive in going after members, because they are given grant money and funded through the state and other organizations. Also they are filthy and over crowded and run by high school students who don’t have a clue about fitness.

This Bally gym is as good if not better than many of the other gyms in the area for the simple fact they are run by a professional who cares.

Patron,
You made a number of valid points. After the column ran, I too had a very positive conversation with the new GM of the Crossgates Bally’s facility. He talked about all the changes he has already implemented, and I took him at his word that he was serious about cleaning up the place — literally and figuratively.
However, I’m afraid that while good intentions combined with big staff changes and sprucing up the place are important, they fail to answer the central question: what is Bally’s going to do to change its actual contract practices so that people won’t be afraid of getting stuck in a financial and legal nightmare as described by so many unhappy customers? By the way, I would advise dropping the argument that “all the gymns operate the same way” in terms of contracts …Sorry Patron — that dog don’t hunt.

This is a problem for Bally’s that cannot be dismissed by simply saying, “Caveat emptor.” You talk about responsibility. Well, you’re absolutely right about that: it’s Bally’s responsibility — and only theirs — to fix its own tarnished reputation that it earned all by itself. It’s up to Bally’s to explain to the public exactly how it will change its contract practices in order to regain the public’s trust.

No doubt Patron is an employee of this place, probably in the marketing or public relations department. He blames Higgins for only presenting one side of the story, yet Dan clearly indicates he tried several times to speak to someone from the Gym, with no response.

The article indicates a copy of the alleged contract was requested and finally bally’s agreed to refund. I work with contracts all day as a part of my profession, and if a contract is legitimate you don’t give in. If you continually give in, you go out of business.

Tom M.’s right on the money, bally’s knew they decieved the girl and it goes beyond Tisco’s predatory practices. It’s teh corporate policy that sucks as well.

As for local fitness, I prefer Cicotti or the YMCA but if you feel the need to be with a “true gym,” the Lia’s are reputable local businessmen for generations and they run the Gold’s franchises as far as i know.

As bleak as things appear, Bally’s Crossgates actually has a terrific opportunity to turn things around here.

The manager told me about one important improvement he’s already made by streamlining the types of memberships they offer. While that’s a nice initial step, but that’s barely scratching the surface of the REAL problem.

Instead, Bally’s needs to quickly and convincingly reinvent its membership business practices. They can start by establishing a “No Questions Asked” policy allowing people to immediately cancel their memberships on the spot. No hassles, no delays, no hidden charges or penalties. No followup paperwork that needs to be filed by a certain date.

This would be a powerful marketing/competitive tool since Patron was actually right about one thing — A lot of the other gyms do pull the same types of stunts that Bally’s has. Bally’s is in a unique position to be free to create a whole new way of doing business because of the situation it is in.

Now, that’s what Bally’s SHOULD do to address its biggest problems. The question is, is the company capable of such bold changes or will its instead maintain a bunker mentality, blaming others for the situation it finds itself in?

In addition to my previous point in #35 about the need for Bally’s to implement a “no questions asked” membership cancellation policy, the gym also must establish new internal auditing controls designed to prevent a member/former member’s credit card account from being billed without owner’s specific authorization.

However, none of the necessary changes — including those suggested above — will occur unless Bally’s Crossgates and/or Bally’s corporate office is able to admit to itself that its negative reputation is taking on a life of its own and that they need to make tangible, dramatic steps to change the way it deals with members and former members.

Unfortunately, Bally’s has had these practices since the 80s. I remember signing up for a “lifetime” membership with them back in 1987 in Maryland; they had the same tactics then, too. Even though I divorced and moved out of state, to a town where they did not have a gym, I was unable to cancel the membership prior to the initial 3-year period. I was able to cancel after that, after many calls and letters.

But even now (21 years later!) they continue to send me reminders to “re-enroll” with them! I must say that the “yearly re-enrollment” amounts are very low ($96/year, according to my last “reminder” just last month), but I am terrified of being stuck in another payment nightmare, and therefore cannot consider it, no matter what. I don’t know how to stop them from contacting me – even though I’ve moved about 12 times since 1987, they keep finding my new address! It’s like I’m being stalked by them! I don’t want to contact them just in case I “validate” any information they may have about me.

Shira – Sorry to hear you have had your share of issues like so many others. Until now Bally’s apparently has never had anyone in a leadership position with crisis management experience to understand how past problems (like the ones you described) can feed into more recent (and eerily similar) complaints, such as those cited by the others above.

Bally’s (and the gym industry overall) has earned itself a negative reputation for various membership billing practices over the years. Bally’s is simply becoming a metaphor for the overall industry’s issues — and the company seems unable to recognize that reality. The challenge — and potential opportunity — for the new management at Bally’s Crossgates is to declare how it has (or will) fixed its membership billing protocols and other questionable practices…

I don’t understand why she didn’t just contest the charge with her credit card company. Most ccc would just immediately start a investigation and there won’t be any interest on the disputed charge while the investigation is going on. If she tells the ccc that she didn’t sign up for the membership (and since Bally’s have no proof she did sign up for the membership), wouldn’t that have ended that and her money refunded?

You ask an interesting question Josie – one I’m afraid I can’t answer. That said, there appears to be a larger problem/issue in play here about the overall gym industry’s membership & billing practices coming under increased criticism, with Bally’s — given its national prominence — becoming a symbol of an industry that is out of touch with consumers’ concerns.
Rather than remain silent as they are now, Bally’s should be going out of its way to explain exactly what it will do to begin protecting existing & prospective members from real and/or perceived membership & billing problems in the future. You have to wonder if the Bally corporation understands the phrase “crisis management.”

Oh… I can tell you some major Bally’s drama! My husband and I both had memberships there. There was a manager there at one time named “Pete” if my memory serves me right that was his name. Well he told my husband and I he could save us money by giving us a joint membership instead of our 2 seperate ones. So we thought, great! Yeah RIGHT! He never canceled our other two memeberships, so we were paying for 3 memberships! THREE! This was in 2006. It took a YEAR for us to straighten things out with not only corporate Bally’s, but also the collection agencies. On top of this, Pete was calling my husband and myself constantly trying to be “friends” with us. He even started stalking my husband. He even showed up at my husband’s work one night randomly! Let’s just say Pete no longer works at Bally’s and last I heard he moved on to Gold’s Gym in Latham. I will never ever be a member of Bally’s ever again. I don’t care who the new managers are!

I was so amazed when I found this site. Me and my friend were also tricked into Bally’s. The person who got us to sign the contract was also not a pleasant guy. We told the sales person that we were interested in only month to month. But he wouldn’t let us leave when we refused to do a contract. We were in his office for over an hour. We even mentioned that we weren’t sure because we both had medical issues. But he told us that we can always cancel with a doctor’s notice. But to make a long story short, we ended up with a 3 year contract/friends membership. So, we thought we had a good deal because we split the $54 monthly payment in half. But I ended up being the primary person on the contract which i had no idea that meant i was responsible for everthing. This was my first gym contract. Well, when i mean everything was that, when i realized that the gym was being a big inconvenience to me, i decided to cancel after 60 days. But then to my surprise, my friends membership wasn’t cancelled. On top of the that she was responsible for the full payment not half of it. Plus, I still receive the bill in the mail in my name eventhough my membership was cancelled. Now, my friend is trying to cancel her membership due to health reason and they won’t let her. They keep going back and forth with us. We have called many times and went personally to the gym but they have been nothing but pain in the necks! I would not recommend anyone to Bally’s in Jacksonville, FL or worldwide. Bally’s are lyers and crooks!

Boo to ballys!!!!!!!!!! i have been a member of ballys for 30 years and moved to florida 20 years ago and have been paying every year and working out at the club on us19. Now all of a sudden LA fitness is the owner and they cannot transfer me over to LA Fitness like they did everyone else!!! and I have no club to go to they keep telling me I am transferred and I am not!! now when you call it says we are too busy to take your call!!! I paid for a membership here in florida and there are NO clubs now in Florida..time for a class action suit I’m ready are you!!!

I believe I purchased a contract in 2003, I terminated it because of military obligation to move to Germany. Here it is 2011 and this contract was brought (by the way I was never late and even faxed a copy of my orders which they requested) 2011 it appears as a negative report on my credit which dropped my score by 76 points! Im in the process of buying a home, Im deployed to Afghanistan and now I may not be able to!

I have had a “radio” company and a magazine attempt to use my credit card without authorization. I am very cautious now to whom my credit card info is given. I was told by the magazine company they are not associated with the agent attempting to charge without authorization (for their magazine). That was a new one.

We all have the following available to us: FTC, Federal Comptroller, Consumer Fraud, BBB, and Attorney General.